Haughton-Mars Project

July 31, 2010

Dr Pascal Lee on HMP 2010

Director of HMP Dr Pascal Lee (NASA Ames, Mars Institute, SETI Institute) talks about research projects this field season at the Haughton-Mars Project.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 9:42 AM CDT | Comments (0)

July 28, 2010

Kira Lorber (Mars Institute, HMP Logistics Manager)

Kira Lorber (Mars Institute, HMP Logistics Manager) introduces herself from the top of a hill near the HMP Base Camp on Devon Island.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 9:20 AM CDT | Comments (0)

July 27, 2010

Byron Adams (ASU): K10 Experiment and other Research

Video by Elaine Walker (EPO, HMP, Mars Institute)
Credit: NASA/Mars Institute/Haughton-Mars Project

Byron Adams is a fourth year Ph.D. candidate at the Arizona State University School of Earth and Space Exploration. His primary research focuses on utilizing thermochronology, cosmogenic radionuclide dating, and structural and geomorphological mapping to study the tectonic history and geomorphology of the Bhutan Himalaya. He is advised by Kip Hodges, Kelin Whipple and Arjun Heimsath.

Continue reading "Byron Adams (ASU): K10 Experiment and other Research" »

Posted by Elaine Walker at 12:15 PM CDT | Comments (0)

HMP 2010: The Peak of the HMP Season Continues

Dr Steve Hoffman (NASA JSC) had another day in the field with the support of Kelsey Young (Ph.D. candidate at ASU).

Valerie Myers (NASA JSC) is continuing her medical immunology research taking cortezol measurements from willing HMP participants.

The K10 robot team: Dr Trey Smith, Susan Lee, Vinh To, Eric Park and Dr Hans Utz (all of NASA Ames) had a very successful day, and has pulled down the tent at their current location. They will be moving to the next one. Their team was supported by Jesse Weaver (camp technician) and his assistant, Travis Oaks.

Kelsey Young and Byron Adams (both Ph.D. candidates at ASU) traversed to Breccia Cliffs and made good progress with their research on the Haughton impact structure. Their traverse was supported by Ben Audlaluk from Grise Fiord.

Dr Perry Johnson-Green (planet ecologist, CSA) and Lauren Artman (general ecologist, CSA) completed 55 sample points today.

The Hamilton Sundstrand team, Ron Sidgreaves and Todd Glazier, continued testing the concept suit ports on the Mars-1 Humvee Rover. Several HMP participants lent themselves as suit port subjects as Ron and Todd are gathered valuable feedback.

Star Amarualik (from Resolute Bay) and Kira Lorber (Mars Institute, Logistics Manager) flew back to camp today, and Peter Eckalook (from Resolute Bay). Tiffany Montague (New Business Development Manager at Google) and Peter Eckalook (from Resolute Bay) will be with us one more day due to weather in Resolute.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 8:19 AM CDT | Comments (0)

July 26, 2010

HMP 2010: A Few New HMP Research Projects Get Underway

July 26 Flickr Photo Set

photo credit: NASA/Mars Institute/Haughton-Mars Project

Dr Steve Hoffman (NASA JSC) conducted his first day in the field, taking pictures and measurements of slopes along a traverse that was planned from aerial photos. Supporting Dr Hoffman was [yours truly] Elaine Walker (E/PO, Mars Institute).

The Hamilton Sundstrand team, Ron Sidgreaves and Todd Glazier, began extensive testing of their new concept suit ports on the Mars-1 Humvee Rover.

Dr Perry Johnson-Green (planet ecologist, CSA) and his assistant, Lauren Artman (general ecologist, CSA), had a great day and took 40 of their sampling points. They have a few more busy days planned in the field.

Posted by Elaine Walker at 8:47 PM CDT | Comments (0)

About the Haughton-Mars Project

The Haughton-Mars Project (HMP) is an international interdisciplinary field research project centered on the scientific study of the Haughton impact structure and surrounding terrain, Devon Island, High Arctic, viewed as a terrestrial analog for the Mars.

The rocky polar desert setting, geologic features and biological attributes of the site offer unique insights into the possible evolution of Mars - in particular the history of water and of past climates on Mars - the effects of impacts on Earth and on other planets, and the possibilities and limits of life in extreme environments.

In parallel with its Science program, the HMP supports an Exploration program aimed at developing new technologies, strategies, humans factors experience, and field-based operational know-how key to planning the future exploration of the Moon, Mars and other planets by robots and humans.

The HMP is managed and operated by the Mars Institute with support from the SETI Institute. HMP-2009 is our 13th field season.